Rolex Daytona

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The Rolex Daytona History

Before discussing the most important stages in the history of the Rolex model Daytona Cosmograph we must take a small step backwards; towards the model with the reference 6238, not just coincidentally called the pre-Daytona. Introduced on the market in 1962 and produced until 1967, watch reference 6238 was the first modern chronograph made by the Swiss company, a real and true “ancestor” of the Daytona. The principal characteristics of the model, available in steel and gold, are its oyster case with screw-on bottom plate, domed bezel, tachometric scale on the dial and rounded crystal. The most well-known models have a monochromatic dial (black, silver and slate-grey), appliqué indices, baton hands and a Valjoux 72 calibre movement. Rolex personalisation can be found in the Microstella adjustment, engraving of Rolex Genève on the plate and in the use of a dedicated chronograph bridge, renamed 72 B.
Originally the bezels of the first models had a graduation up to 300 units per hour, afterward substituted by the more common version with 200 units per hour. The dial came both in a black version with light coloured hands and a silver version with dark coloured hands whilst the watch itself could be made of steel or gold. The chronographic pushers were pump-action, the winding crown a 6mm diameter Twinlock. In 1965 the 72 B calibre was substituted by the 722 calibre and from 1967 this was substituted by the 722-1, modified slightly.
The inscription “Daytona” on the dial, initially intended only for the English-language market, appeared for the first time in 1965 and straightaway became symbolic. The inscriptions can be found both on the dial at the twelve o’ clock position and above the hour sub dial, as well as being of different sizes depending on the year of production and the manufacturing brand of the dial. The name “Daytona” derives from the name of a racetrack in Florida, USA, of whose races Rolex is official sponsor and timekeeper.

In 1965 the Daytona Cosmograph was produced with the reference 6241: new bezel, slightly larger diameter, two-bodied, external metallic ring with Bakelite insert printed with a white tachometric scale.
In the same year Rolex also produced the reference 6240, bearing the inscription Oyster on the dial, which introduced innovative chronograph pushers to increase water resistance. These screw-down pushers, distinguished by particularly thin grooving, are inserted into the case in a less prominent way than pump-action pushers. Thus the Twinlock crown is 1mm larger in diameter, measuring 7mm.
1969 was the year that signalled the end of production for references 6239, 6241 and 6240, which were replaced by the Cosmograph series with a 727 movement, developed from the preceding 722-1.
Reference 6239 was replaced by the new reference 6262, with identical pump-action pushers and engraved metal bezel, whilst reference 6264 replaced the preceding reference 6241, with the same black Bakelite bezel with a white tachymeter scale.

From the mid 1970s the word Daytona appeared in red positioned at the six o’ clock position above the hour sub-dial.
The yellow gold models (14kt and 18kt) are the only ones with the words Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified at the twelve o’ clock position, since they are accompanied by a COSC certificate. These models in particular also carry the movement number underneath the balance wheel, a peculiarity that would also be extended to certain non COSC certified steel models.
Towards the mid 1970s two luxury variations of references 6263 and 6265 appeared on the market: model 6269 with a brilliant cut bezel and model 6270 with baguette cut bezel.
Hand-wind chronographs were excluded from the Rolex catalogue in 1988, penalised on the market probably because of the absence of an automatic winding movement and the prevalence of more classic and elegant tastes. But 1988 was also the year of the appearance of the first 16520 automatic winding model, with sapphire crystal instead of acrylic crystal (plexiglass) and with just one bezel, that is, with no choice of two different bezels. Another innovation was the introduction of shoulders to protect the crown as well as a larger diameter (40mm). The word Daytona in red kept its position and the dials were available in black and white, still with contrasting graphics and sub dials; even if, unlike the previous models, this time the sub dials had a different coloured perimetral ring only.
Reference 16523 is the steel and gold version whilst 16528 is the gold version.
Rolex made its own modifications to the Zenith El Primero 400 movement: removal of the date window, the use of a Microstella balance wheel and other changes that lead to the creation of the Rolex movement 4030. Apart from some other general variations (new bezels, dials and bracelets) that have involved the Cosmograph Daytona collection throughout the years, it is important to point out that in 1992 a model in 18kt gold with leather strap was introduced with the reference 16518, followed by the white gold version with leather strap in 1997 with the reference 16519.

The first model dates from 1988 and is recognisable for the word Cosmograph on the dial, separated from the other inscriptions. It has different sub dial numbers and a different second hand, compared to previous versions. In particular the number 6 on the chronographic hour sub dial is turned upside down with respect to the other letters and numbers on the dial.
Another extremely rare version which has only four inscriptions (Rolex – Oyster Perpetual – Superlative Chronometer – Cosmograph), omitting the words Officially Certified, was in production from 1988 until the beginning of 1989.
The steel tachometric scale bezel goes from an initial graduation of 200km/h to one of 400km/h. A much sought-after intermediate bezel in production from 1989 until 1990 bears graduation from 225/250 and full scale at 400km/h.
The so-called “compax marrone”, or Patrizzi dial, is well known for the change in colour of the sub dials (white to brown) due to a manufacturing fault that took place between 1994 and 1995 (serial number W or S).
Finally a list of the latest Daytona Cosmograph references: 116520 steel, 116523 steel and yellow gold, 116528 18kt yellow gold, 116509 white gold, 116518 18kt yellow gold, 116519 white gold, 116598 SACO with a leopard print dial and spotted band, and the “luxury” references 116589 RBR, 116599 RBR, 116599 TBR, 116599 4RU, 116599 12SA in 18kt white gold.